Welcome

In November 2008, voters approved Proposition 1A, which authorized the state to issue $9 billion dollars in bonds to build a new High-Speed Rail system for California.

Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design (CARRD) is a network that initially formed in response to community concerns about the project.

We value transparency, accountability and oversight and believe local communities should be partners in designing transportation projects. We work to ensure that the public’s interests are upheld and that all facets of the California High Speed Rail project follow both the spirit and letter of the law.

We do this by encouraging civic engagement, providing indepth and relevant information, and advocating for changes in how projects are planned.

1/14/2014 In which Dan Richard, the CEO of the California High Speed Rail Authority, accuses us of underhanded behavior.

What were these admittedly last minute (a Tuesday meeting!?!) devious “purported comments” we made to the FULL board and promptly posted on our website? Here are the comments we made, mostly complaining that the dockets/packets have never been made public.

12/12/2013 Even more on travel time calculations for the blended system. Did the Authority ask their consultants to slant a critical report?

11/24/2013 We have posted additional progress reports from the Authority’s consultants, including reports from the since dismissed program manager oversight consultant (TY Lin) and a new series of reports from the construction manager oversight consultant. Since the Authority stopped holding public operations committee meetings 18 months ago, these are virtually the only way to get updates on what is going on. Hint, hint: a westside bypass of Bakersfield is at least being looked at and service plans for the first construction segment are being developed at the FRA’s request. Shouldn’t these service plans get some public feedback?

Please note: we have posted most recent and will eventually add older reports. If you need something, please email info@calhsr.com .

10/18/2013 Guess what arrived in the mail? The questions and answers submitted by the bidders on the first construction contract RFP! There are a lot – some about typos and some about substantive issues like risk sharing, insurance and curves that were drawn too tight.

8/16/2013 Judge rules against CHSRA: they must rescind funding plan that is requirement before spending bond $ CARRD urged the board not to approve an obviously flawed plan in November 2o11 See video clip

10/25/2011 EIR Comment Letters from various stakeholders in response to the High Speed Rail Authority’s environmental reviews.

10/20/2011 Reports to the Legislature by the California High Speed Rail Authority on funding alternatives, blended service from San Francisco to San Jose, Grapevine communications plan, along with CARRD’s analysis.

7/28/11 CARRD is happy to report that we have finally received a copy of the first report from the Ridership Peer Review Committee which is available here. For more information, please visit our Ridership page. We have been promised via email a CD by the end of the week with the communications between the Authority and the Ridership Peer Review Committee.

1/20/2011 CHSRA’s Technical Memos which CARRD is in an ongoing process of obtaining through a series of Public Records Requests. These are guidelines which ensure that early designs for each section are consistent and compatible.